- Preface
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Chapter 13—Temptation No Excuse for Sin
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Chapter 38—Accountability for Light
-
-
- Chapter 41—Divine Guidance
-
-
- Chapter 44—Self-denial
-
- Chapter 46—Abiding Presence of Christ
-
-
-
-
-
- Chapter 50—Education for Eternity
-
-
-
-
- Chapter 55—Aspiration for Improvement
-
-
-
-
-
- Chapter 59—Responsibility for Soul Winning
-
- Chapter 61—Personal Work
-
-
- Chapter 64—Unselfish Service
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Chapter 79—Our Attitude in Prayer
- Chapter 80—Faith and Prayer
-
- Chapter 82—Search the Scriptures for Yourself
-
-
-
-
- Chapter 87—A Well-grounded Hope
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Chapter 94—The Effect of Fiction
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Chapter 107—A Christian Household
- Chapter 108—Faithfulness in Home Duties
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Chapter 115—The Hour of Worship
- Chapter 116—Religious Hospitality
-
-
-
-
- Chapter 126—Words of Counsel
-
-
- Chapter 129—Unholy Influences at Work
-
-
-
-
- Chapter 134—Literary Societies
-
-
-
-
- Chapter 137—Christian Sociability and Courtesy
-
-
-
- Chapter 141—The Choice of Companions
- Chapter 142—The Golden Rule
-
-
-
-
- Chapter 147—Irreligious Visitors
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Chapter 155—Responsibilities of Marriage
-
- Chapter 157—The Example of Isaac
-
Chapter 139—The Influence of Association
It is inevitable that the youth will have associates, and they will necessarily feel their influence. There are mysterious links that bind souls together, so that the heart of one answers to the heart of another. One catches the ideas, the sentiments, the spirit, of another. This association may be a blessing or a curse. The youth may help and strengthen one another, improving in deportment, in disposition, in knowledge; or, by permitting themselves to become careless and unfaithful, they may exert an influence that is demoralizing.MYP 411.1
The matter of choosing associates is one which students should learn to consider seriously. Among the youth who attend our schools there will always be found two classes, those who seek to please God and to obey their teachers, and those who are filled with a spirit of lawlessness. If the youth go with the multitude to do evil, their influence will be cast on the side of the adversary of souls; they will mislead those who have not cherished principles of unswerving fidelity.MYP 411.2
It has been truly said, “Show me your company, and I will show you your character.” The youth fail to realize how sensibly both their character and their reputation are affected by their choice of associates. One seeks the company of those whose tastes and habits and practices are congenial. He who prefers the society of the ignorant and vicious to that of the wise and good, shows that his own character is defective. His tastes and habits may at first be altogether dissimilar to the tastes and habits of those whose company he seeks; but as he mingles with this class, his thoughts and feelings change; he sacrifices right principles, and insensibly yet unavoidably sinks to the level of his companions. As a stream always partakes of the property of the soil through which it runs, so the principles and habits of youth invariably become tinctured with the character of the company in which they mingle....MYP 411.3